Flushometer



ll l1. S llr i l l Q l F l C E Application filed .lannz'iry 537, 1923.Serial 2T0. 615,264.

p 1 iohet chamber, said inlet and pressure cnarnbers being incommunicetion, a valve between said inlet and outlet clenibers, and saidpressure end relief chnnibers also be ing 11} connnunication,.adiaphregnn and spring operated, relief valve between said pressure andrelief chambers, and air-cont pression ineens tor operating said dimphrzgni and reliefvalve, against the re siliencylo't the associatedspring, from a r unote point, together with such other ports and membersas may be necessary or desirable in order to render the tinshornetercomplete and serviceable, all as hereinafter set forth.

The primary object of my invention to produc a flushorneter and meansfor operah ins; and controlling the same troin a remote point bypneumatic pressure, which are simple in construction, and positive insction. end wherewith ere obtained a quick dischnrggje, and a slowclosing .ction, involving a predetermined time interval.

This 'lhishonieter is practically noise-less,

does not leak, and is withal practicable one etlicient.

@ther objects and advantages will appear in the course of the "lillowing desc iption.

I attain the objects and secure the 2rdvnntuges oi my invention by theniesns illust "ated in the occon'ipnnying drawings, in \(lllC-ll Figure1 is a central, vertical section through a tlushoineter which embodies apractical form oi my invention, the intermediate portion or the tubebetween the casing members and the compressed-air-cylinder being brokenout, and the movable parts being disposed in closed and otherwise normalor initial position, and, Fig. 2, an enlarged, cross section throughcorsecured to the 'n of the pars, taken on.lines 2 ing down, in Fig. 1.

Similar reference characters designat similar parts thronghoit theseveral views. illustrated in the drawings, a valve is representer, at1, and secured to with a packing ring 3 between, d l. The casing 1designed to be rooted v tll the usual supply and disof an ordinarywater-supply said casing has therein an inlet nn-dnn outlet chan'iber 6.The '11 d (5 are separated by means of which is provided with a hori- Iseat 8. 'lhere is abress-lined P'LVSSHG cha ber 9 in thecnsing 1 below t2, lookn been i, and a wzste, exhaust, or'reliet' chn nher 10 in saidhead. The top of the chamber 10 formed bya diaphragm 11 whim hell inplace by means olithe Jllan 'ed base of a nipple 12, said base beingnipple 12 at the upper The passage in tl icted. The axis of the terminalcons passage through the nipple liZis in the same line with the axis ofthe-valveseat e, and also in this line is on opening through the capTapped into the An annular support 18, which is adapted. to he set inthe floor, has depending therefrom lower terminal of whieli'is s.constricted passage similar to that in the upper terminal of the nipple12. The upper end of the tube 16 is secured to the bottom of thecylinder 1) by ineansot z second coupling 17, said tube opening into theconstricted passage in said cylinder.

A. "vertical plunger 20 is slidingly arranged in the center of thesupport 18. The plunger 20 has a central passage therein which opensthrough the bottom thereof, and a spring 21 is arranged in said passagebetween the top thereot and a shouldered pert ot the cylinder 19 throughwhich opens at the top the constricted passage in said cop l above saiddiaphragm.

o hollow, cylindrical casing 19 in the casing. Normally the spring 21retains the plunger in an elevated position, so that the head of saidplunger extends some distance above the support 13. Upon applying thefoot to the head of the plunger 20 said plunger can be forced downwardlyagainst the resiliency of the spring 21. Secured to the bottom of theplunger 20 is a piston-head comprising upper and under rings 22 and 23,respectively, and an interposed leather washer or cup-packing An airchamber 25 is thus formed in the cylinder 19, such chamber being belowthe aforesaid piston-head.

A. valve-seat 26 is provided in the tube 1 L approximately on the samelevel with that ot' the under side of the bottom ot the cap A reliefvalve 27 is provided for the valve-seat 26, the construction of saidseat and valve being such that the latter opens downwardly. The valve 27is supported from a stem 28 that is secured to the center of thediaphragm 11, and tends into and is guided by the upper-terminal portionof the tube 14,. The lower portion of the stem 28 is channeled, as bestshown at 29 in Fig. 2. The tube let opens at 30 into the chamber 10, andat 31 into the chamber 9. The openings 30 are adjacent to the channels29 in the valve-stein 28, and the openings 31 are below the valve 27. Aspring 32 is interposed between the diaphragm 11 and the bottom of thecap 4:. The lower end of the tube 14 is closed by means of a-plug 33.

Slidingly arranged on the lower-terminal portion of the tube M is ahollow member 34 which serves as a valve-stem tor a valve 35 for thevalve-seat 8. This is the main valve. There is annular clearance or anarrow annular space 36 between the tube 14: and the valve-stem 341. Thevalve-stem 34: below the valve 35 is tapped into a valve member 38. Asleeve 39, having a top flange all) and a bottom flange d1, is mountedon the valve-stem 3 1. The valve-stem 3+1: has a top flange betweenwhich and the flange 40 is a leather washer or cup-packing 43 thattightly lits the walls of the chamber 9 in which latter these membersmove up and down. The flanges 40 and 4.2 and the cup-packing form apiston-head. The valve 35 is clamped between the flange l1 and the valvemember 33. The valve when in closed position bears on the top of thevalve-seat 8, while the upper portion of the valve member 38 at suchtime lills the opening through said seat. The lower portion of themember 38 is trusto-conical in shape, and, when the valve and saidmember are elevated so that such irustroconical part of said member isin the valveseat 3, water is permitted to flow from the chamber 5 aroundthe frustro-conical part through said seat into the chamber 6. The

trustro-conical valve member also prevents water-hammer.

The operation of this fiushometer, assuming that the parts and membersare dis posed as in Fig. 1, as follows:

The plunger 20 is forced downwardly, against the resiliency ot thespring 21, and carries with it the piston-head which includes thecup-packing 2%, with the result that the air between said piston-headand the diaphragm 11 is compressed and forces said diaphragm downwardlyin the center, against the resiliency of the spring 32. The diaphragm 11carries with it the valve-stem 23 and the valve 27 and opens the waythrough the valve-seat 20. The chamber 9 is full of water which hasentered the same from the chamber 5 through the narrow passage 36, andthe tube 1% between the valve 27 and the plug 33 is also full of waterwhich has entered through said tube through the openings 31 in the,tube, and the water from said tube and said first-- named chamberimmediately passes through the valve-seat 26, up through the channels29, and out through the openings 30 in the tube, into the chamber 10,from which latter the water escapes to the sewer. As soon as the plunger20 is released, and it should be released directly after beingdepressed, the spring 21 raises said plunger and with it the attachedpiston-head, with the result hat the spring 28 is permitted to act onthe diaphragm 11 and restore the same to its former or initial position,thus closing the valve-seat 26 with the valve 27, through the medium ofthe valve-spring 28. lVhile the water is escaping from the chamber 9through the openings 31, the tube 14, the valve-seat 26, the channels29, and the openings 30, the pressure of the water below the valvemember 38 causes said member, the valve 35, and the valve-stem 34s withthe other parts and members carried thereby to be raised a sufficientdistance to open the way through the valve-seat 8, and permit the waterto pass from the chamber 5 through said valve-seat into the chamber 6,The flow of water from the inlet chamber to the outlet chamber continuesuntil the pressure of water in the chamber 9 is suliicient to forcedownwardly the piston-head in said chamber 9 and *ause the valve toclose the valve-seat 8, when the [low of water from said inlet chamberto said outlet chamber is cut 0F, and further tiow ceases. The waterpressure accumulates in the chamber 9, to bring about the closing of thevalve 35, because the valve 27 is clos d, and water enters said chamberthrough the passage 36 and continues to enter until the balance ofpressure changes from the chamber to the chamber 9.

ll ater enters the chamber 5 under pressure as usual, and the resultsdescribed above jaeeaeea are due to the fact that a certain amount oithe water entering said chamber rises through the passages 36 into thechamber 9 until the latter is filled and has a pressure therein equal tothe pressure in the chamber 5; and to the further fact that the chamber9 is much larger in diameter than the opening through the valve-seat 8,or the area of the piston-head in the chamber 9 is greater than that ofsaid valve-seat, so that the valve is seated with a force proportio-nateto this difference in area-when the pressure in the chambers 5 and 9 isequal. It naturally follows that the opening of the relief valve 27enables the pressure in the chamber 9 to be reduced, with the resultthat the greater gressureol the water in the chamber 5 causes the valve35 to be opened. As soon as the relief valve is closed, however, thewater pressure in the chamber 9 begins to increase, by reason of theentrance into said chamber of the water through the passage 36, andcontinues to increase until the pressuie above the pistonhead in saidchamber is greater than that below the valve 35, when'the latter isforced onto its seat, as previously observed.

More or less change in the shape, size, construction, and arrangement ofsome or all of the parts of this flushometer maybe made, withoutdeparting from the spirit of my invention or exceeding the scope of whatis claimed. 1

What I claim as my invention, and desi e to secure by Letters Patent,is-

1. In a flushometer, a casing having therein inlet and outlet chambers,and a pressure chamber with which said inlet chamber is at all times incommunication, a valve-seat between said inlet and outlet chambers, adownwardlyclosing valvefor said valve-seat, said inlet chamber openinggreater thanthat of said valve, a stem connection between said valve andpiston-head,

the construction and arrangement of parts being such that said valve 'isnormally retained in closed position by pressure on said piston-headfrom the water which enters said pressure chamber from said inletchamber, means, comprising a diaphragm-controlled valve, to permit thewater to escape from said'pressure chamber I and a pressure chamber, avalve between said inlet and outlet chambers, a piston-head in saidpressure chamber, the area of said piston-head being. greater than thatof said valve, a stem connecting said valve and piston-head, a fixedtubular member upon which said stem is slidingly arranged with aclearance between, said tubular member depending from the top of saidpressure chamber andextending through said chamber and said outletchamber into said inlet chamber, said tubular member opening into saidpressure chamber, having a valve-seat'which opens above said pressurechamber, and being otherwise closed, means, comprising adiaphragm-ccntrolled valve, to relieve the pressure in said pressurechamber, and air-compression means to force air against the diaphragm ofsaid diaphragnrcontrolled valve to open thelatter.

8. In a llHSl'lOlllGtGI, a casing having therein communicating inlet andoutlet chainbers, a valve between said chambers, means, comprising adiaphragm-controlled valve, normally to cause said first-named valve tobe held in closed position, a remotelylocated casing, a plunger providedwith a piston-head in said second-named casing,

whereby the air in said secondnamed casing is compressed when saidplunger is forced inwardly, an air-tight conduit between said casings todirect the compressed air against the diaphragm of saiddiaphragm-controlled valve to open the latter, and means to enable saidfirst-named valve tobe opened when said diaphragm-controlled valve isopened.

4. In a flushometer, a casing having therein inlet and outlet chambers,and a pressure chamber, a valve-seat between said inlet and outletchambers, a downwardly-closing valve for said valve-seat, said inletchainber opening through said valve-seat below said valve, means in saidpressure chamber normally to retain said valve in closed position, asecond valve adapted when open to permit water to escape from saidpressure chamber, yielding means normally retaining said second valve inclosed position, a re motely-located casing, an air-tight conduitbetween said casings, and an outwardly spring-pressed air-compressionplunger in said second-named casing, the construction and arrangement ofparts being such that the air when compressed in said second cham-- berovercon'ies the resistance of said yielding means and causessaidsecondmlve to be opened. 7

5. In a flushometer, casing members having therein inlet and outletchambers, a pressure chamber, and r a relief chamber, a fixed tubularmember extending downwardly from the member which separates said reliefchamber from said pressure chamber, having therein a valve-seat forcommunication between said pressure and relief chambers, opening intosaid pressure chamber, and being otherwise closed, a mainvalve-seatbetween said inletand outlet chambers, a downwardly-closingmain valve for said main valve-seat, said inlet chamber opening throughsaid main valve-seat below said main valve, a piston-head in saidpressure chamber, connections outside of said tubular member and betweensaid main valve and piston-head, said pressure chamber being in constantcommunication with said inlet chamber through said connections, adiaphragm in said relief chamber, a valve for said first-namedvalve-seat, a stem carried by said diaphragm and carrying saidsecond-named valve, and means to force air against said diaphragm andthereby open said second-named valve.

6. In a tlushometer, casing members hav ing therein inlet and outletchambers, a pressure chamber, and a relief chamber, a valve-seat betweensaid inlet and on let chambers, a downwardly-closing valve or saidvalve-seat, said i let chamber opining through said valve-s below saidvalve, :1 piston-head in said pressure chamber, cennections between saidvalve and pistondiead, a spring-pressed diaphragn'i in said relie'tchamber, a fixed tubular member extending through the member whichseparates said reliet chamber from said pressure chamber, and extendingdownwardly into said valve and piston-head connections, the arrangementbeing such that said reliei chamber is in constant con'nnunication withsaid pres sure chamber outside of said tubular memher, and the latteropening laterally into said pressure chamber, having a valve-seat in theupper part thereof, and being otherwise closcd, a valve for saidsecond-named valve-seat, a stem carried by said diaphragm and carryinsaid secondnamed valve, and means to force air against said diaphragmand thereby overcome the resistance of the diaphragm spring and opensaid secondnamed valve.

7. In a flushometer, casing members having therein inlet and outletchambers, a pressure chamber, and a relief chamber, a fixed tubularmember extending downwardly from the member which separates said reliefchamber from said pressure chamber, having therein a valve sea-t t'orcommunication between said pressure and relief chambers, opening intosaid pressure chamber, and being otherwise closed, a main valvese: tbetween said inlet and outlet chambers. a down vardly-closing main valvefor said main valve-seat, said inlet chamber opening through said mainvalve-seat below said main valve, a piston-head in said pressurechamber, connections outside of said tubular member and between saidmain valve and piston-head, said pressure chamber being in constantcommunication with said inlet chamber through said connections, a(liaphragm in said relief chamber, a valve for said lirstmamedvalve-seat, a stem carried by said diaphragm and carrying saidsecondnamed valve, a cylinder, an air-tight conduit between saidcylinder and the side of said diaphragm which is opposite to thatwhereon said second-named valve located, and an air-conrpression plungerin said cylinder, the construction and arrangement of parts being); suchthat air compressed by said plunger in said cylinder operates saiddiapnragm to open said second-named valve.

8. In a llllSllOlilGtQ'l', casing members having therein inlet andoutlet chambers, a pressure chamber, and a relief chamber, a valveseatbetween said inlet and outlet chambers, a downwardly-clcsing valve forsaid valvescat, said inlet chamber opening through said valve-seatbelowsaid valve, a pistonhead in said pressure chamber, connections betweensaid valve and piston-head, a SPilHg-PTQSSNl diaphragn'i in said rel clchan'iber, a fixed tubular member extending through the member whichseparates said relief chamber from said pressure chamber, and enter dingdownwardly into said valve and piston-head connections, the arrangementbeing such that said relief chamber'is in constant comnumication withsaid pressure chamber outside o't said tubular member, and the latteropening laterally into said pressure chamber, having a valveseat in theupper part thereof, and being otherwise closet, valve "for saidsecondnamed valve-seat, a stem carried by said diaphragm and carryingsaid second-named valve, a cylinder, an airtight conduit between saidcylindcr and the side of said diaphragm which opposite to that whereonthe spring tor said diaphragm and said second-named valve are located,and an aircompression plunger in said cylinder, whereby, when saidplunger is actuated to compress the air in said cylinder, the compressedair operates said diaphragm to open said second-named valve.

CHARLES H. itlKlNS.

Witnesses F. A. CUTTER. Gnoncu il liiunrnnrn.

